Angel Falls

With just under a week to go, the R & R really began with out trip to Angel Falls. We had an early start and left for Ciudad Bolivar airport at 6am. It was a welcome relief to be carrying our day sacks after the heavy bags we had carried on the trek. The Cessnas that would take the group to Canaima, only accessible by air, were not disimilar in looks to the plane of Jimmie Angel the American explorer who first discovered the falls and who they were consequently named after, and whose plane now sits outside Ciudad Bolivar airport for all to see. Angel Falls or ´Salto Angel´cascades from the top of the Áyuantepui´in the middle of the jungle in Parque Nacional Canaima, Venezuela´s second largest park. The group split into 13and 5 to travel over savanna, jungle and then close to various tepuis and over the surging Carrao river to reach their destination. After paying arrival tax we took a short truck journey to Kavac camping site, as 18 hammocks were rigged up we walked down to the paradise stylew beach on the edge of the lagoon. Lined with palm trees the pinky water lapped at the shore. In the blazing sunshine the team were able to lie on the beach in view of 3 powerful waterfalls. After a few hours we met our guide and took a short boat ride towards the 3 waterfalls which had been visible during the day. Disembarking the long boat we made our way to the first waterfall ´Salto El Sapo´ walking behind the ferocious water we were soaked in seconds, the water was surprisingly warm, yet it powerfully dropped in front of us in a white, foamy curtain. The noise was immense, the water roared all around us as the team carefully made thier way over the rocks behind the falls. After this exhilarating experience the team were taken to another, bigger fall ´Salto Hacha´which had been clearly visible all day from the beach. This was more powerful, noisier and more dramatic than the last. There was chance to sit under the mighty plummet of the waters to the lagoon below. Spray enveloped us and once again we were saoked. After this amazing experience the group made thier way back to camp for dry clothes and warm drinks.